Centerville considers a city police department

The Centerville City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, January 7, 2010 in the Municipal Building Meeting room in Centerville.

One of the items under “Old Business” was the need for a city police department. While the Leon County Sheriff’s Department is located in Centerville, officers are busy in the county and are not able to patrol the city. Given the break-in and attack on a Centerville woman in October the Council discussed the feasibility of created a Centerville Police Department. Budgets from the City of Madisonville and City of Jewett Police Departments were reviewed and Tammie Mason gave the Council copies of a Police Department budget from where she previously lived. The agenda item will be discussed further at the February meeting.

Councilman Warren Baillio made the motion to authorize the private sale of the City’s old phone system; invitation for bids was advertised and none were received.

Councilman Baillio also made the motion to donate the City’s old computer to the Library. If the computer is not needed by the Library then it could be sold privately. Invitation for bids was also advertised for the computer and none were received.

The Council voted to postpone awarding a bid for replacing the water well pump. There is a possibility the project may be funded by a grant and the Council felt it would be best to wait until they are sure they receive the grant.

There was a water leak in the water line in front of Lacey’s Grocery on Monday, January 4, 2010. The Council was told that the line is in bad shape and needs to be replaced as soon as possible. The line is in the road and needs to be moved to the ditch. Cost estimates will be presented at the February meeting.

There was no one available for Public Comments; December minutes and all employees time sheets were approved. Meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.